Rail-anchor.



H. G. WAHR.

RAIL ANCHOR- APPLICATION men OCT-17. 1911.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919 3 SHEETS-SHEET I- Mun urns aiwnwumm wan-umn H. G. WARR.

RRRR ANCHOR.

APPLICATU I]. 19!]. 1,301,625, Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

I 3 SSSSSSS SHEET 2.

H. G. WARE.

am ANCHOR.

1,301,625. I I I Patented Apr. 22,1919.

HAROLD G. WARR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE P & M COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RAIL-ANCHOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

Application filed October 17, 1917. Serial No. 197,102.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD G. WARR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Anchors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices known as rail anchors or anti-creepers to prevent the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, and has for its primary ob ect to provide an improved device of this character which will be light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, strong enough to withstand the stresses to which devices of this character are sub jected when in service, and which will not be loosened in its hold on the rail by vibration or other causes having that tendency.

It is well known that railroad rails, even when made in conformity with the same standard, often vary in the width and thickness of their base flanges. This imperfee tion may be due to the wearing away of the bearing surfaces of the rolls employed in manufacturing the rails, or it may be due to the corrosion of the rails after they have been in service for some time. Such conditions as these present certain disadvantages in connection with the use of the rigid onep-iece devices, as these devices M1 not well adapted to used on rails which vary in width and thickness of their fi nges.

It is one of the specific objects 0 iny in vention to provide a new and improved rail anchor, preferably a one-piecedeince, which can be used effectively on rails, the base flanges of which may vary in Width or thickness. A further specific object is to provide a. rail anchor which will check or counteract the Warious tendencies, such as fibmtion, counter-creeping, and the like, which operate to cause rail anchors to work loose on the rail. In t is connection my invention contemplates he provision of a, one-piece rail anchor w fch will grip the edges and the upper and lower surfaces of the base flange of the rail by a hold which increases during presence of a creeping pressure on the rail. i

A further object is to provide a device which may be conve iently applied to or removed from the rai When desired.

My invention consists in the novel arrangements and constructions to be herein te eev a d c aimed for am ss out the above stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a rail and cross tie showing the preferred form of my device applied to the rail.

F ig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the position of the anchor under a creeping pressure.

F 1g. 3 1s a side elevation of the device showing the rail in section.

Fig. 4 is a side view, in elevation, similar to that of Fig. 3, illustrating the manner in which the device is applied to the rail.

Fi 5 is a view ofthe blank from which the evice illustrated in the preceding figures is made.

Fig. 6 is a side view in elevation of a modified form of the device.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation,illustrating the manner in which the type shown in Fig. 6 is applied to the rail.

Fig. 8 is a view of the blank from which thei device shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is made; an

F ig. 9 is a View of the blank from which another modified form of the device is made.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a railroad rail and 11 one of the cross ties on which the rail is supported. The anchor illustrated in the drawing is a one piece device and consists of a flat piece of metal, preferably spring steel, one end of which is formed with a substantially V- shaped bend 13 which extends outwardly from the edge of the rail base and termili fis in a tie abuttin portion 14 which ears against one of t e vertical faces of the tie l1. This end of the device is provided with spaced notches 15, 16 which constitute rail base engaging jaws adapted to wedgingly engage one edge of the rail base in a manner to check the creeping tendency of the rail, and also to provide a suitable support for the device to prevent the tie abutting portion from rocking away from the under surface of the rail. The rail base embracing portion or yoke 17 extends diagonally across the under surface ,of the base flange and is formed with a notch 18 which engages the opposite edge of the base 4 of the drawings.

when the device is applied to the rail. The lugs or hook portions 19, 20 and 21 of the jaws 15, 16 and 18, respectively, are preferably disposed in alinclnent with the other portion of said jaws and are adapted to bear against the upper inclined surface of the rail base. When the said lugs or hook portions of the jaws are disposed in the manner above mentioned, instead of being arranged diagonally, as is customary in devices of this character, a more desirable wedging grip can be obtained on the rail for the reason that the jaws are more rigid and are less likely to yield under the stresses in cident to the creeping action of the rail. The tie abutting ortion 14- is of greater width than the yoke 17 so as to provide a comparatively wide surface which bears against the tie: This portion decreases in width toward the apex of the bent portion 13. This construction rigidities the device at the part most needed to resist the tendcncy which the creeping act-ion of the rail will have to twist or bend the lower part of the tie abutting member in a direction longitudinally of the rail. The bent portion 13 is substantially V-shaped and the bend is made at the place where this part of the device is narrowest. Therefore any flexing of the device caused by the creeping action of the rail or during the application of the device to the rail will be confined, or substantially so to the apex of said bent portion. By reason of the flexing of the device at this point the creeping action of the rail will tighten the grip of the device transversely of the rail, in the manner indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, so as to change the angular position of said jaws and thereby increase their wedging grip on the edge of the base flange of the rail. Ob viously any forward movement of the rail will tend to shorten the distance between the biting points of jaws 20 and 21, provided, as is intended, the initial grip of the device on the rail is suflicient to cause the jaw 21 on the free end of the anchor to move forward with the rail. For the purpose of facilitating the application of the device to the rail the lower ortions of the jaws 15 and 16 are prefera 1y inclined downwardly toward the vertical edges 22, 23, respectively, so as to permit the device to stand at an angle with respect to the under surface of the base of the rail when the device is being applied thereto.

he device is applied to the rail as follows: The end B 1s passed under the rail and the jaws 15, 16 are driven upon the edge of the base flan e C as shown in Fig.

n this position the inner edge 24 of the jaw 18 stands a short distance within the edge of the base flange D. The yoke or tongue portion 17 is then sprung from its set position, as indicated at E (Fig. 1), to the dotted line position F shown in the same figure. As the yoke is being sprung from its normal position to the position indicated at F the inclined surface 25 on the lug 21 will permit the end I of the anchor to be raised until the edge 21 clears the edge of the base flange. The yoke is then permitted to spring back to its operative position G (Fig. 1). When the device is applied to its operative position the yoke exerts a spring pressure against the rail and thereby holds the jaw 18 in a tight wedging engagement, with the base flange D. The spring pressure exerted against the base flange of the rail. prevents the vibration of the rail or a possible difference in the expansion or contraction of the rail and the anchor from affecting the grip of the jaws of the anchor upon the edges of the rail base, and also makes the device particularly applicable to rails, the base flanges of which, due to imperfections in their manufacture or corrosion, vary in width or thickness. Any creeping of the rail in the direction in dicated by the feathered arrow in Figs. 1 and 2 will produce a cramping action be tween the jaws 16 and 18 in a manner to cause the vertical edges 22, 26 of said jaws, respectively, to bite farther into the vertical edge of the rail base and thereby increase their hold on the rail. Such creepin action also tends to shorten the distance etween the jaws 15 and 16, and 15 and 18 so as to increase the gripping actions transversely of the rail.

In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, is shown a modified form of the device, the V-shaped bend 13 of which is subjected to a twisting strain during the application of the device to the rail, and remains in such strained position after the device has been applied to its operative position. The jaw 15' of this device is preferably made substantially the same as the jaw 15 of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive; that is, the lower portion of the jaw inclines downwardly to the vertical edge 22 thereof, so as to provide a slight clearance between the upper portion of the jaw and the upper edge of the rail base to permit a slight rocking movement of the anchor when the jaw, adapted to engage the opposite edge of the rail base, is raised to its 0 erative position. The jaw 16 of this modi cation is formed to fit the edge of the base flange of the rail when the device is in the position indicated in Fig. 7. The jaw is preferably driven upon the ed e of the rail base so as to have a tight we ging grip, and is adapted to maintain a fixed position while the jaw 18 is being raised to its 0 erative position on the other edge of the see flange, as indicated in Fig. 6. It will be observed that by raising the jaw 18 to the position indicated in Fig. 6, the jaw 15 will be rocked downwardly until the under surface of the lug l9 bears against the upper surface of the rail base. This rocking movement of the jaw 15*, while jaw 16 remains in a fixed position, subjects the V-shaped bent portion 13 to a torsional strain. When the device is in its operative position, its tendency to assume its normal position from which it was sprung by the said torsional or twisting action will exert a downward pressure on the lug 20 against the upper surface of the base flange and an upward pressure on the bar l7 against the under surface of the rail base, thereby counteracting the tendency of the vibration of the rail, counter-creeping and the like, from loosening the hold of the device on the rail.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings I have shown another modification in whlch the bent portion 13 is subjected to a torsional strain only during the application of the device to the rail, or when it is being removed therefrom. In this device the jaw 16 is preferably formed to fit the edge of the rail base, the under surface of the jaw being formed on a line with the upper edge of the tie abutting portion 14" so as to provide a greater frictional contact with the under surface of the rail base than is shown in connection with the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. The other jaws 15, 18 have substantially the same form as the modification illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. When the device is in operative position on the rail, the V-shaped bent portion 13 not being subjected to a torsional strain is free to flex near the apex thereof under the creeping pressure of the rail in the same manner as the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. The bent portion 13 of the modification shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 will flex under the creeping action of the rail in substantially the same manner as the other forms of the device, though it may be found necessary to make the device from heavier or tougher material, or to make other suitable provisions for strengthening the device, so that the portion of the anchor subjected to the torsional strain may be flexed under the creeping action of the rail without danger of breaking the spring memher.

I claim:

1. A one-piece rail anchor, consisting of a piece of metal having one end bent to provide a tie abutting member, and formed with a notch adapted to grip one edge of the base flange of the rail and at the other end with a pair of notches adapted to engage the opposite edge of the rail, one of said pair of notches being formed with a downwardly inclined surface to permit the device to stand at an angle to the under surface of the said base flange when it is being applied to the rail.

A one-piece rail anchor, consisting of a piece of spring metal having one end bent to provide a tie abutting member, and formed with a notch adapted to grip one edge of the base flange of the rail and at the other end with a pair of notches adapted to engage the opposite edge of the rail, said last named notches being formed with downwardly inclined surfaces to permit the device to stand at an angle to the under surface of the said base flange when it is being applied to the rail.

3. A one-piece rail anchor, consisting of a flat piece of spring metal bent to provide a tie abutting member, and formed with spaced notches which fit over one edge of the base flange of the rail and are adapted to permit the device to stand at an angle to the under surface of said base flange when being applied to the rail, and formed with means which grip, with s ring pressure, the opposite edge of the rail ase.

one-piece rail anchor, consisting of a flat piece of spring metal bent to form a tie abutting member, and provided with spaced jaws which fit over one edge of the base flange of the rail and have a downwardly inclined portion which permits a rocking movement of the device when applied to the rail.

5. A one-piece rail anchor, consisting of a flat piece of springmetal bent to form a tie abutting member, and provided with spaced jaws which grip one edge of the base flange of the rail, and have a downwardly inclined portion which permits the anchor to stand at an angle to the under surface of said base flange Without straining said jaws when the anchor is being applied to the rail, and a portion of said anchor being formed so as to grip, with spring pressure, the opposite edge of said base flange.

6. A one-piece rail anchor consisting of a piece of spring metal bent at one end to form a tie-abutting member and formed at this end with a pair of notches and formed at the other end with a notch, the intervening portion of the device adapted to extend across the under surface of the rail base and being bendable lengthwise of the rail in applying the device to the rail, the lower edge of one of said pair of notches having a downward and outward inclination with respect to said intervening portion of the anchor to permit the device to stand oblique to the rail base when the notches at this end of the anchor are ongaged with the edge of the rail base in applying the anchor to the rail.

one-piece rail, anchor consisting of a flat piece of spring metal having one and formed with a substantially V-shaped portion constituting a tie abutting member and adapted to flex at the apex of the V, and having a rail embracing portion comprising a tongue which extends under the base flange of the rail and which engages the edges thereof with spring pressure.

8. A one-piece rail anchor, consisting of a flat piece of spring metal having one end formed with a substantially V-shaped portion constituting a tie abutting member and adapted to flex at the apex of the V, and having a rail embracing portion comprising a tongue which extends under the base flange of the rail and which engages the edges thereof with spring pressure, said tongue being formed with hooks alining with the body portion of said tongue and adapted to bear against the upper inclined surface of said base flange.

9. A one-piece rail anchor, consisting of a flat piece of metal formed at one end with a substantially V-shaped bend providing a tie abutting portion, and with spaced jaws adapted to wedgingly gri the upper and lower surfaces of one e ge of the base flange and formed at the other end with a jaw adapted to be sprung into operative engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base, the said spaced jaws being provided with a downwardly inclined surface extending under the base flange of the rail, for the purpose described.

10. A one-piece rail anchor, consisting of a flat metal formed at one end with a substantially -shaped portion adapted to flex at the apex of the V and with spaced jaws which fit over one of the base flanges of the rail, the other end of said strip being formed with a jaw adapted to be strained by application of the device to the rail.

11. A one-piece rail anchor formed at one end with a substantially V-shaped portion adapted to flex at the apex of the V providing a tie abutting member and formed at the other end with a jaw adapted to be sprung into operative position on the rail.

12. A one-piece rail anchor formed with a jaw adapted to be sprung into operative engagement with one edge of the base of a rail and formed with a bend provided with spaced jaws which gri the opposite edge of the rail base, said bend being substantially V-shaped and adapted to flex at the apex thereof under creeping pressure so as to change the relative ositions of said jaws.

13. A one-piece r'ai anchor formed with a jaw adapted to be sprung into operative engagement with one edge of the base of a rail and formed with a bend provided with spaced jaws which grip the opposite edge of the rail base, said bend being substantially V-shaped and adapted to flex at the apex thereof during a creeping pressure.

14. A one-piece rail anchor formed with a jaw which fits over one edge of the rail base and with a substantially V-shaped bend formed with spaced jaws which fit over the opposite edge of said rail base and providing a tie abutting member; said device being adapted to flex at the apex of said bend during the creeping action of the rail so as to increase the grip of both of said spaced jaws on the rail base.

15. A one-piece rail anchor consisting of a. piece of spring steel formed with a jaw which fits over one edge of the rail base and with spaced jaws adapted to engage the opposite edge of the rail; said spaced jaws being spaced apart with a substantially V-shaped bend adapted to flex at the apex thereof during the creeping action of the rail so as to increase the grip of both of said spaced jaws on the rail base.

16. A one-piece rail anchor consisting of a piece of spring steel formed with a jaw which stands away from the cross tie and is adapted to engage one edge of the base flange of the rail with a pair of spaced jaws adapted to engage the opposite edge of said base flange one of which bears against the tie, said device being adapted to be flexed under a creeping pressure so as to shorten the space between the pair of jaws on one side of the rail and increase the grip on the rail of the jaw bearing against the tie.

17. A one-piece rail anchor consisting of a piece of spring steel formed with a jaw adapted to engage one edge of the base flange of the rail with a pair of spaced jaws adapted to engage the opposite edge of said base flange, said device being adapted to be flexed under a creeping pressure so as to shorten the distance between the pair of jaws on one side of the rail and increase the grip of both of said jaws on the rail.

18. A one-piece rail anchor, consisting of a flat metal strip formed at one end with a jaw which fits over one edge of the rail base and formed at the other end with a substantially V-shaped bend having spaced jaws which engage the opposite edge of the rail base with a pinching grip the portion of the anchor between said spaced jaws being bendable along a vertical line substantially midway of the jaws.

19. A one-piece rail anchor consisting of a flat metal strip provided at one end with a rail engaging jaw adapted to fit over an edge of the base of the rail, said device being formed at the other end with a pair of spaced jaws each engagin the top and bottom surfaces of the rail ase, the portion of the anchor between said spaced jaws beingsubjected to a twisting strain when said device is applied to the rail.

20. A one-piece rail anchor consisting of a flat metal strip provided with three rail engaging jaws each adapted to engage the top and bottom surfaces of the base of the rail, said device being formed at one end with a substantially V- haped bend which is subjected to a twisting strain when applying said device to the rail.

21. A one-piece rail anchor formed at one end with a jaw adapted to be sprung into operative engagement with one edge of the base of a rail and formed at the other end with a bend provided with spaced jaws adapted to grip the opposite edge of said rail base, one of said spaced jaws being adapted to be rocked into operative engagement with the rail base.

22. A one-piece rail anchor formed at one end with a aw adapted to be sprung into operative engagement with one edge of the base of a rail and formed at the other end with a bend provided with spaced jaws adapted to grip the opposite edge of said rail base, one of said spaced jaws being provided with a clearance so as to subject said bent portion to a twisting strain by the application of the device to the rail.

23. A one-piece rail anchor formed at one end with a jaw adapted to be sprung into Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the operative engagement with one edge of the base of a rail and formed at the other end with a bend provided with s aced jaws adapted to grip the opposite e ge of said rail base, one of said spaced jaws bein provided with a clearance to permit saif aws to be rocked into said operative position and therebysubject said bent portion to a twisted strain when the device is applied to the rail.

24. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a piece of spring metal formed at one end with a rail engaging notch and at the other end with a bend having two spaced rail engaging notches, the metal intervening between said notches bein relatively narrow with respect to the width at the jaws, along a line intermediate the jaws so that flexing of the device under creeping stress takes place along this line.

HAROLD G. WARR.

"Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. G. 

